Physical changes in the carbon cycle

Question 1

Define an interglacial period.

Answer 1

a warm period

Question 2

Define a glacial period.

Answer 2

a cold period

Question 3

Does temperature and carbon dioxide levels mirror each other?

Answer 3

Yes

Question 4

What is the impact of chemical weathering in cold conditions on carbon stores and transfers?

Answer 4

chemical processes would be more active because cold water can hold more carbon dioxide

Question 5

What is the impact of forest coverage in cold conditions on carbon stores and transfers?

Answer 5

forest coverage would be different in both total area and location which will affect the rate and distribution of photsynthesis.

Question 6

What is the impact of decomposers in cold conditions on carbon stores and transfers?

Answer 6

decomposers would be less effective, so carbon transfer to soils would have been reduced

Question 7

What is the impact of oceans in cold conditions on carbon stores and transfers?

Answer 7

less water would flow into the oceans as it would be locked up as snow and ice on land

Question 8

What is the impact of soil in cold conditions on carbon stores and transfers?

Answer 8

the soil would be frozen over vast areas of land which would stop transfers of carbon

Question 9

What are the 2 main physical causes for the changes in the carbon cycle?

Answer 9

wildfires
volcanic eruptions

Question 10

What caused a noticeable spike in the rising trend of carbon emissions recorded since 1950s?

Answer 10

the huge wildfires in 1997-98 and in 2013, in Indonesia which burned out of control for months and cause smoke to spread across parts of South-East Asia

Question 11

How many millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide is released each year by volcanoes?

Answer 11

130 to 380 million

Question 12

How many billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide does human activities emit in a year?

Answer 12

30 billion